Thomas D. Murray Jr., 82, of Needham, who was a reporter for the Boston Herald Traveler, died Tues Feb 1, 2005 at Northeast Specialty Hospital in Natick.
Born and raised in Malden he graduated from Malden Catholic High School and attended the Malden Business School, he later graduated with the first graduating class of Merrimack College. He served with the U.S. Army Air Corps during WW II and had been a resident of Needham since 1952. He began his newspaper career as a copy boy for the Boston Post and the Boston Globe, and late began working as a reporter for the Malden Evening News. He later worked as editor of the Malden Press. In 1953 he became a reporter for the Boston Traveler later known as the Boston Herald Traveler, working as a police reporter. He was one of the last reporters to interview Boston Mayor James Michael Curley. He also walked with Dr. Martin Luther King during a Civil Rights March in Boston. During an assignment for the Herald Traveler in 1971 he was involved in a car accident while on an assignment. He was a charter member of the Lt. Norman Prince Drum & Bugle Corps.
Husband of the late Alice (Donovan) Murray he is survived by his sons and daughter Thomas D. Murray III and his wife Ellyn of Plymouth, Richard T. Murray of Needham, and Allison Ann Droney and her husband William of Needham; his grandchildren Karyn E. Murray and Thomas D. Murray IV, and Alicia A., Erin E., and Conor W. Droney.
Relatives and friends will gather at the Eaton Funeral Home 1351 Highland Ave Needham on Fri Feb 4 at 10 AM and proceed to a Mass of Christian Burial in St. Bartholomew Church at 11 AM. Interment will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery Needham. Visiting hours will be in the funeral home on Thurs from 4-8 PM.
Contributions in his name may be made to the American Cancer Society 30 Speen St. Framingham MA 01701 or to St. Bartholomew Church 1180 Greendale Ave. Needham, MA 02492.